App Store Publishing

Use this request when you want to publish an app on the public Apple App Store under the Northwestern University developer account. This applies to apps for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS.

Not what you need? See the Program Overview to choose the right service request.

 

Prerequisites

Before submitting this request, please ensure you have obtained or are prepared to obtain the following:

✅ Approval from Northwestern Global Marketing and Communications

All apps published on the App Store under Northwestern’s developer account must be approved by Northwestern Global Marketing and Communications. This ensures that:

  • The app is branded as Northwestern University and complies with NU identity and branding guidelines.
  • App name, icon, screenshots, and marketing copy accurately represent Northwestern.
  • The app meets institutional standards for public-facing communications.
You must provide documentation or confirmation of this approval as part of your submission.

 

What You Will Receive

After your request is approved, Northwestern IT will provision and securely share:

  1. Distribution Certificate — Used to sign your app for App Store submission.
  2. Provisioning Profile — Ties your app’s Bundle ID, certificate, and capabilities together.
  3. Push Notification Credentials (if requested):
    • p8 key (token-based) — A .p8 file along with the Key ID and Team ID, or
    • p12 certificate (certificate-based) — A .p12 file with the corresponding password.
  4. App Store Connect Access — Limited access to manage your specific app (as appropriate).

See the Developer Guide — Certificates, Profiles, and Code Signing in Xcode for instructions on how to install and use these assets.

 

Process Overview

Marketing Approval Obtained → Submit Request
via TDX		 → NUIT Security
Review		 → Certs & Profiles
Provisioned		 → Developer Builds
& Submits		 → App Review
(Apple)		 → App Live
on App Store
Step 1   Step 2   Step 3   Step 4   Step 5   Step 6   Step 7

 

  1. Marketing Approval — Obtain approval from Northwestern Global Marketing and Communications.
  2. Submit your service request with all information above.
  3. Security Review — Northwestern IT reviews the security and privacy questionnaire.
  4. Provisioning — Certificates, profiles, and credentials are generated and shared securely.
  5. Development — You integrate the signing assets, build, and test your app. See the Developer Guide.
  6. Submission — You submit the app to App Store Connect for App Review.
  7. App Review — Apple reviews the app against the App Store Review Guidelines.
  8. Publication — Once approved, the app goes live on the App Store.

 

Apple Documentation References